Local Landmarking Now Available

We now have two designated landmark homes in the Village:

1.  The Drew House on Carpenter Street, a Gothic Revival house is identified with Mr. Donald Drew, a founding father of the Downers Grove Oratorio Society, now known as the Downers Grove Choral Society.

2.  The home at 4943 Highland Ave., built in 1883 for Gustav Bunge, builder of  the Tivoli Theatre and former village official.  The house originally stood where the Tivoli is now, and was moved to its current location in 1927.  It features beautiful woodwork and stained glass.

The Downers Grove Coalition for Managed Redevelopment commends and congratulates the owners of these homes for preserving these fine period homes and links to our past.

Is your house, business, or neighborhood a special part of Downers Grove history?   Would you like to see it protected against teardowns or “remuddling”?

Chicago Suburban Alliance Learns About Downers Grove

On Saturday, October 24, the Downers Grove Coalition for Managed Redevelopment hosted a meeting of the Chicago Suburban Alliance.

Charley Smart leads tour of 1846 Blodgett House after Chicago Suburban Alliance meeting in Downers Grove.

The Chicago Suburban Alliance is a network of local officials and residents interested in historic preservation, chaired by Genell Scheurell, Director of the Chicago office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Participants come from across suburban Chicagoland and include village staff, village commissioners, historic preservation commissioners, and

Construction Watch Handbook

The Neighborhood Construction Watch Handbook was produced by the Downers Grove Coalition for Managed Redevelopment to help citizens become involved in managing the impact of residential redevelopment.

Click here to view or download the file.

There are three ways you can use this file:

• Read it online, just zoom in to enlarge the type as much as you want
• Print it out on regular 8.5×11 paper (set the Page Scaling option to “Fit to Printable Area”)
• Print it out on both sides of legal 8.5×14 paper as a booklet (set the Page Scaling option to “Booklet Printing” and the paper orientation to “Landscape”)

The above printing options are available in the free Adobe Reader 8 available from www.adobe.com.

Click here to view or download the file.

Request printed copies by sending email to johnschofield@gsb.uchicago.edu or by calling 630-810-1403.

Funding to print the Neighborhood Construction Watch Handbook has been generously provided by the Pierce Downer’s Heritage Alliance and the Downers Grove Watch Association.

Coalition Perspectives

Coalition Chairman Ken Kerner’s testimony at the Plan Commission Hearing on September 26th summarized support by DGCMR for the current staff recommendations as first, necessary steps toward successfully managing residential redevelopment.

Chairman Lerner also provided copies of N.J. “Pete” Pointner’s Memorandum Report to Downers Grove Mayor Brian Krajewski and Members of the Village Council with a cover letter that urges the Council to take two more vital steps: Protection of trees on private property during construction activities and better information about and control of demolition permits.

Tree Preservation

A complete plan for managing redevelopment should include not just the “built environment” but also the natural environment.  Environmental concerns have, to some extent, been factored into zoning provisions such as the lot coverage and side setback limits, which affect storm runoff and drainage.  However, Downers Grove has not addressed one of the most obvious, direct and visible aspects of teardown redevelopment: the loss of trees.

TCD3

This year the Village of Downers Grove is instituting a planning process called Total Community Development (TCD3).  The first workshop was held on March 4, 2009. Several additional meetings have already taken place and more are planned. This process will lead to a revision in the village’s comprehensive plan, which in turn will serve as a baseline for setting priorities and policies in for the next several years.  What does it all mean for residents?  It’s a major chance to let the Village know what you think is important.

The Village is seeking input from residents and business people about village life and how the village can preserve and improve it.  There will be surveys and workshops to express your views.  Do you think affordable housing is important?  Controlling teardowns?  Preserving neighborhoods? Preserving trees?  Through the TCD3 process, the concerns and preferences of residents will be recorded and will become part of the Village’s blueprint for the future.  It’s voluntary and anyone can become part of it – visit the Village website (www.downers.us) for more information and to get involved.

ADRB speaks out

Recommends Council address Historic Preservation and Appearance Code Guidelines

The Coalition for Managed Redevelopment commends the Architectural Design Review Board (ADRB) for their efforts on behalf of the Village.  Under the direction of Chairman Mike Davenport, the ADRB has devoted considerable thought and effort to developing recommendations to the Village Council on two issues: historic preservation and architectural design review.

A Historic Occasion

On Tuesday July 3, 2007, the Downers Grove Historic Preservation Ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote of the Village Council.